Vacuum apparatus

Abstract

In this vacuum apparatus with a vacuum chamber and a vapor condenser installed therein, a refrigerant and a brine are supplied into said vapor condenser to thereby effect heat exchanges between both mediums and between both or either one of said mediums and a vapor to be generated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A freeze drying apparatus comprising: (a) a closed-type vacuum chamber with a first vacuum chamber and a second vacuum chamber defined therewithin, a valve being disposed between said first vacuum chamber and said second vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump being operatively connected to said second vacuum chamber;   (b) a shelf means received within said first vacuum chamber for cooling or heating objects-to-be-freeze dried carried thereon and including brine flow means;   (c) a condensing means received within said second vacuum chamber and including refrigerant flow means and brine flow means therewithin, the outer surface of said condensing means in all or in part forming a vapor condensing surface;   (d) a brine pipe line for recycling brine between said shelf means and said condensing means;   (e) a refrigerant pipe line for recycling refrigerant between said condensing means and a refrigerator installed outside of the closed-type vacuum chamber; and   (f) brine pump operatively connected to said brine pipe line for moving brine therethrough.   
     
     
       2. A freeze drying apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said brine pipe line includes a by-pass pipe passage arranged to recycle brine in the condensing means along without recycling it in the shelf means and a valve to prevent the brine from recycling to the shelf means from the condensing means. 
     
     
       3. A freeze drying apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said brine pipe line includes a by-pass pipe passage arranged to recycle brine in the shelf means alone when the recycling of brine from the condensing means to the shelf means has been prevented.